§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each NDPB and agency sponsored by his Department(a) the maximum retirement age adopted for most employees and (b) their practice on not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59453]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIt is for individual NDPBs to determine their own policies on the age-limits of those applying for employment, in accordance with existing equal opportunities legislation and good practice guidelines.
Agencies are bound by the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code. Section 2.1 states:
Civil Service equal opportunities policy provides that all eligible people must have equality of opportunity for employment and advancement on the basis of their suitability for the work. There must be no unfair discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, or (in Northern Ireland) community background.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) his Department and (b) its agencies have a policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59454]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office recruits people to both the Diplomatic service and the Home civil service.
Diplomatic servants must be between the ages of 21 and 52. This is to ensure that those joining the service can complete at least one home tour (usually 18 months) and one post abroad (usually three years), before they reach the normal retirement age of 60.
Home civil servants must be between the ages 16 and 58. This again is to ensure that those joining can complete at least one tour (usually two years) before reaching the retirement age.
FCO services based at Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes carry out their own recruitment. They recruit only staff for the Home civil service. Band A support staff must be aged between 16 and 63 and those within the Bands B and D must be aged between 16 and 61.